“Just once, shortly after that whole ordeal. He chose his path. I’ve made my peace with that.” Her shrug appears too casual for the topic of conversation.
“Turning over a new leaf, huh?”
“Trying,” she mumbles, lifting the crafting book for emphasis.
“She’ll appreciate the effort.”
“Do you?”
I almost laugh. “Are you that desperate for approval?”
Frankie’s features harden into stone. “I thought we were mending fences. My mistake.”
A gruff sound of disbelief scrapes from me. “You’ll have to try harder than that to win me over, but it’s a decent start.”
“Listen,” she exhales. “Believe what you want, but I care about Ronnie. She’s proved to feel pretty strongly about me too. That’s not something I’ve had before. Nobody has ever fought for me. I’ve never been wanted beyond selfish means.” Another loud sigh. “Now that I’ve experienced a tiny taste, I don’t know how I survived without. But I guess that’s what I’ve been doing. Barely surviving. I won’t jeopardize the gift she’s giving me or take itfor granted or do anything to hurt her. At least not on purpose. A girl could get used to such genuine kindness. You can trust me not to run from it.”
There’s an unmistakable clench in my chest. I avert my gaze, avoiding the unmasked vulnerability in hers. Something tells me Francesca Keller doesn’t expose weakness often. That knowledge sparks emotions I haven’t felt in years.
“Good speech,” I mutter.
Frankie scoffs and crosses her arms, rebuilding the wall between us. “Are you done bothering me?”
“Hardly.”
“I’m certain you have better things to do.” The defensive hostility in her tone doesn’t penetrate my thermal flannel or motivate me to leave.
“Why are you in such a hurry to get rid of me?”
“Aside from the fact we’ve been arguing since you sat down?” She mutters under her breath about stubborn cowboys who need to read the room.
That could be taken as an invitation. But fuck, I shouldn’t tease this temptress. She’s already proven how quickly she can unravel me. That doesn’t stop the words from free-falling.
“Are you uncomfortable, menace?” It’s not the first time I’ve asked.
“No,” Frankie grinds out.
“Do I give you butterflies?”
“Get real,” she guffaws. “Fuck butterflies.”
“Never felt ‘em?”
She slices across her neck. “I don’t believe in that fluffy shit and I don’t understand why you’re still here.”
The answer to that is too complicated, becoming more complex the longer I stay. It’s almost painful to admit that talking to Frankie is a tolerable way to pass the time. Dare I sayenjoyable? Heat gathers in my gut, preparing to travel below the belt. Nope, that’s going too far again.
“Just keepin’ tabs on you and your spending habits.”
“Uh-huh, which we’ve discussed. I’ve been reprimanded and put in my place. Consider the task complete. You’re free to leave.”
I glance around the empty space. Everybody else is gone or moved to the first floor. “It’s getting late.”
“All the more reason to get gone.”
“You’re the only one left.”
“That’s how I prefer it.” Her stern voice shuts down any attempt to linger.